Key Takeaways
- Kia Australia says the all-new 2027 Seltos hybrid small SUV is coming late 2026. One local report says October
- Kia confirms the new Seltos gets its Australian ride and handling tune
- Reported hybrid-only for Australia, with no pure-petrol version
- Reported 1.6L hybrid: 113kW FWD, 131kW (UK figure) to around 133kW AWD, 6-speed DCT in UK spec
- Reported grades: S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line. Pricing TBC, no ANCAP rating yet
Update, 1 October 2026: Kia Australia now has a page for the car, titled the 2027 All-new Kia Seltos, which says it is "Coming late 2026" as a hybrid small SUV and confirms Kia's "localised tuning from our long-established Australian ride and handling program has been implemented". The page also lists Kia Connect with over-the-air updates and available reclining second-row seats. It does not list grades, power figures or prices. Australian outlets report a hybrid-only range, and one local report adds an October launch, S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line grades and Kia saying pricing will be competitive. Kia has not published those details itself, so we treat them as reported.
Current-generation Seltos shown. Image credit: Kia Australia
The next-generation Kia Seltos is coming to Australia as a hybrid small SUV, and Kia Australia's own page says it arrives late in 2026, badged as a 2027 model. Australian outlets report Kia Australia has told them the local range will be hybrid only, dropping the pure-petrol versions that have done the heavy lifting for the small SUV until now, with one report putting the launch in October. It is a notable call for a core model in Kia's line-up, and a sign of how quickly electrification is working its way down to the affordable end of the market.
What We Know So Far
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | Hybrid (Kia AU page); hybrid-only range reported |
| Australian launch | "Coming late 2026" (Kia AU); October reported |
| Local ride and handling tune | Confirmed by Kia AU |
| Grades | S, Sport, Sport+, GT-Line (reported) |
| Drive | FWD and AWD depending on grade (reported) |
| Pricing | To be confirmed |
The Hybrid System
Kia has not released Australian power figures yet. Reports of the UK-market car give a preview: the front-drive Seltos hybrid pairs a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined 113kW, while the all-wheel drive version adds a second motor on the rear axle for 131kW in UK figures. A later Australian report puts the AWD output at around 133kW. UK cars use a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. Local specification is expected to be similar, but Kia Australia will confirm the numbers closer to launch.
Local Tune, Bigger Body, More Tech
The one thing Kia Australia has put in writing is the chassis work. Its page says the brand's "localised tuning from our long-established Australian ride and handling program has been implemented for a refined driving experience across both our urban and country roads". One local report says the changes cover damper and spring rates and a different steering tune from the Korean-market car. Kia's page also lists Kia Connect telematics with over-the-air updates and available reclining second-row seats.
The next Seltos has been revealed with a larger body, fresh styling and updated cabin technology. One Australian report says Kia expects the local grade walk to closely follow the current car, running from the entry S up through Sport and Sport+ to the GT-Line flagship, with front-drive and all-wheel drive depending on grade. Kia Australia was reported as citing the need to future-proof the model against tightening emissions rules, and its chief executive pointed to strong local demand for hybrids.
Pricing Expectations
Kia has not put numbers on the new Seltos yet. For context, Kia Australia lists the current Seltos S from $31,250 RRP before on-road costs, rising to $46,670 before on-road costs for the GT-Line 1.6L turbo AWD. A local report says Kia promises the new car's pricing "will be competitive", and the same outlet expects a drive-away start under $40,000 by comparison with the related Hyundai Kona Hybrid. That is an outlet's estimate, not a Kia price. We will publish the full pricing table as soon as Kia confirms it.
Safety
ANCAP has not yet published a rating for the new hybrid Seltos, so there is no data on its score. Kia generally fits a broad driver-assist suite as standard, and we will report the official result once testing is published. For background on how the current scoring works, see our ANCAP explainer.
How It Compares
A hybrid Seltos puts Kia head to head with the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, Hyundai Kona Hybrid and the growing crop of Chinese hybrid small SUVs like the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid. Kia's ace remains its seven-year warranty and its local ride and handling program. If you want a hybrid family runabout, our best hybrids guide covers the field, and the larger Kia Sportage is the obvious step up.
Our Take
Going hybrid-only with the Seltos is a confident move for a car that sells on value, and it should pay off at the pump. The big unknown is still price. Hybrid tech costs more to build, so the entry Seltos is likely to creep up from the current $31,250 before on-road costs. If Kia can keep the rise modest and back it with the usual seven-year warranty, the new Seltos should stay near the top of the small-SUV shopping list. With Kia saying late 2026, local pricing should not be far away.
Kia Seltos Review | Best SUVs Under $50K
Disclaimer: Timing, the hybrid powertrain and the local tune come from Kia Australia's all-new Seltos page. Grades, the hybrid-only range, the October launch and power figures are as reported by Australian outlets and from UK-market reports, not a final local spec. Current-model prices are Kia Australia RRPs before on-road costs. Pricing for the new model is yet to be confirmed. We will update this article as Kia releases more detail.